Senior investors are prime targets for investment scam artists. While some investment solicitations are legitimate, it is often difficult to decipher between the good and bad. You can take your name off solicitation lists by visiting the following websites:

• DoNotCall.gov: By registering your telephone number, you will be removed from telemarketers’ phone lists.
• DMAchoice.org: This website, which was developed by the Direct Marketing Association, will help you control the amount of mail and email you receive from solicitors.
• Networkadvertising.org: You can use this website to opt out of “advertising cookies” that are often placed on your computer by marketers.

If you still receive solicitations, be cautious. Most reputable investment firms will honor your request to not receive telemarketing calls or mailings.

What is the National Do Not Call Registry? 

The National Do Not Call Registry was created to stop unwanted sales calls from telemarketers. The registry is a free service that you can use to stop most telemarketing calls, including investment telemarketing calls. Once your phone number is on the registry, businesses have to stop calling you within 31 days. 

You can sign up for the registry online. Most telemarketers should not call your number once it’s on the registry, but there are a few exceptions, such as calls from political organizations, charities, and survey researchers. If you get an unwanted call from an investment telemarketer after your number is on the registry for 31 days, you can file a complaint at donotcall.gov.